Portable Hammock Frame Shiftable Between Multiple Stable Positions

ABSTRACT

A hammock assembly comprises a conventional hammock on a hammock frame, which comprises two curved support members diverging from opposite ends at an angle. Each support member is formed of curved sections that are joined end to end to end. Disassembly of these curved sections or tube in the field provides portability. The hammock assembly will tilt when the occupant positions his or her center of gravity to the side of the center point of the hammock frame, so that the occupant can sit, partially recline or lie in a number of stable positions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a hammock assembly and specifically to a hammock frame assembly for supporting a conventional hammock. This invention is also related to a hammock assembly that can be broken down for portability. This hammock assembly also provides a virtually infinite number of stable rest positions depending upon the position of an occupant in the hammock.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Metal hammock frames that sit on the ground are commonly employed to support a hammock. Typically these metal frame have straight runners that are spaced apart and sit flat on the ground. At the ends, these tubes can angle toward each other so that the hammock can be supported along a centerline. An example of such a hammock can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,691,394.

One older version of a hammock employs two supports which have sections on opposite sides of a central flat section that are curved upwardly and inwardly to support a hammock attached at opposite ends. This hammock is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 144,219.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,7725,963 shows another version of a hammock that has curved side sections that are received in central support.

Ease of portability is not an essential aspect of these prior art hammocks, and although they appear to be capable of disassembly, they appear to be either somewhat complicated to erect and breakdown, or they have relatively large components which may be difficult to carry and transport. Also each of these prior art hammocks appear to be intended to remain in a horizontal position and would be suitable for either reclining on the hammock or sitting with the occupants seat disposed laterally to one side or another. These prior art hammocks do not appear to have numerous or even infinite positions for reclining, sitting or partially residing in a partially inclined position such as on a chaise longue depending upon the location of the occupant's center of gravity relative to the mid point of the hammock. All of these hammocks appear to be susceptible to the tendency of the hammock to spin away as a person attempt to enter the hammock from the side in the classic manner that has long been the subject of slapstick humor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of this invention, a hammock frame has two elongate support members connected at opposite ends. Each support member includes curved sections over most of its length between the opposite ends, with the curvature of the two support members being equal. The two support members are fixed at the opposite ends and lie in transverse planes at an acute angle relative to each other. Hammock attachment members are locate at each of the opposite ends so that a hammock can be deployed between the two opposite ends. The hammock is free to rotate to tilted positions dependent upon an occupant's center of gravity relative to the hammock frame wherein the hammock frame will support the occupant in stable reclining and multiple stable sitting positions as well as in multiple stable positions in which an occupant will be inclined relative to horizontal and vertical planes.

This invention also comprises a portable hammock support frame having multiple curved tubes connectable end to end to end to form a tubular support member. Two support members are attachable to each other at both opposite ends thereof. Two tubular support members are connectable at both opposite ends thereof and diverge from the opposite ends to maximum intermediate lateral spacing to rest on a ground surface to prevent lateral displacement of the hammock frame when supporting a user on a hammock attachable between opposite ends of the support frame. An attachment member is located at opposite ends of the hammock frame for attaching a hammock to the hammock frame. Each attachment member is attachable at an exposed end of tubular support members adjacent the opposite ends of the hammock support frame. The hammock support frame, when fully assembled, is free to rock longitudinally transverse to the lateral spacing between the diverging tubular support members; the curved tubes being disconnectable for portability.

A portable hammock assembly, according to another aspect of this invention comprises a hammock attachable to a field assembled and field disassembled hammock support frame progressively curved between opposite ends. The hammock support frame comprises two support members attachable on to the other at opposite ends thereof and laterally diverging therebetween so that the widest spacing of the support members is equidistant the opposite ends of the hammock support frame. Each support frame is formed of a series of more than two, identical curved tubes for assembly and dissemble of the support members. Hammock attachment members are located at opposite ends of the hammock frame; wherein the hammock assembly is free to rotate and tilt between opposite ends of the hammock frame so that an occupant can be supported in different positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a three dimensional view of an assembled hammock frame.

FIG. 2 shows a partially disassembled hammock frame.

FIG. 3 is a side view of one assembled hammock curved support member formed by four interconnected curved sections or tubes.

FIG. 4 is a view showing two curved sections or tubes connected together.

FIG. 5 is a view of one curved section or tube with a straight connector tube exploded therefrom.

FIG. 6 is a view of one curved section or tube showing a connector tube inserted in one end thereof.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the curved tube and connector tube as shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an end view of the tube subassembly shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 9 is a view of two connector tubes, forming one end of support members showing how the support members are attached at each end.

FIG. 10 is a partially exploded three dimensional view of the subassembly shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the subassembly shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

FIG. 12 shows two end caps that would be inserted into the ends of curved sections or tubes at one end of two support members and the hammock frame.

FIG. 13 is a three dimensional view of a lateral support strap.

FIG. 14 is a top view of the lateral support strap shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a side view of the lateral support strap shown in FIGS. 13 and 14.

FIG. 16 is a view showing typical dimensions for a carry bag in which the components of the portable hammock frame can be transported.

FIG. 17 is a view showing a strap on the carry bag of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a view showing the hammock assembly with a hammock mounted between opposite ends of a hammock frame.

FIG. 19 is a view of the hammock assembly of FIG. 18 showing an occupant with his center of gravity located to one side of the center of the hammock frame and sitting in a stable position so that he can sit in a partially reclining and partially upright position.

FIG. 20 is a view of the hammock assembly of FIGS. 18 and 19 showing an occupant sitting on the hammock and seated laterally of the longitudinal axis of the hammock in a stable position.

FIG. 21 is a view of the hammock assembly of FIGS. 18-20 showing an occupant in a reclined, horizontal position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a hammock frame 10 that includes two curved support members 20 that extend between opposite ends 12 of the hammock frame 10. The two curved support members 20 contact each other at the ends 12 and then diverge until a maximum lateral spacing occurs at the center of the hammock frame 10 equidistant from the opposite ends 12. In other words the two curved support members diverge from each other at an acute angle. The lateral spacing of the two support members 20 will prevent lateral forces acting transverse to a longitudinal axis extending between the opposite ends 12 from causing the hammock to collapse, and will support a occupant lying or sitting on a conventional hammock supported between opposite ends 12 of hammock frame 10.

The curved hammock frame 10 is formed by a series of curves sections or tubes 24, which form the curved support 20. In the preferred embodiment, four curved sections 24 are joined to form each of the curved support members 20. These curves sections or tubes 24 are joined end to end to end to form the curved support members 20. FIG. 2 shows these curved sections 24 when partially disassembled or just prior to initial assembly. Since the curved sections or tubes can be connected and disconnected in the field, the hammock frame is portable, and the curved sections or tubes 24 are short enough for easy transport by a single person. The curved sections or tubes 24 when joined will form a progressively curved support member 20, one of which is shown in FIG. 3. In the preferred embodiment this progressive curvature is not completely continuous, but is instead sufficient for the hammock frame to rotate, rock or roll as forces are applied and varied between and relative to the opposite hammock frame opposite ends 12. FIG. 4 is enlarged relative to FIG. 3 and shows two curved sections 24 joined together to form a virtually complete curve which rotates freely when the weight or center of gravity of an occupant of the hammock assembly 2 shifts back and for the between opposite ends 12.

In the preferred embodiment, the length between the opposite hammock ends 12 is slightly greater than one hundred twenty six inches and the maximum height of the hammock frame 10 is fractionally greater than thirty three inches. This provides a hammock that is relatively low to the ground so that an occupant's feet can touch the ground in various positions while seated on a hammock 4 as seen in FIGS. 19 and 20.

Individual curved sections or tubes 24 are shown in FIGS. 5-8. All of the curved sections or tubes 24 used to construct the support members 20 are preferably identical and interchangeable in order to simplify assembly of the support members 20. Of course, alternate embodiments in which the curved tubes are not identical could be employed, but generally would result in some assembly confusion. In the preferred embodiment each curved tube 24 is fabricated from aluminum. Each curved tube 24 has a central curved portion 26 extending between two shorter straight portions 28 located at both ends of the curved tube 24. In the preferred embodiment as seen in FIG. 4, the length of each straight end section 28 is five inches and the radius of curvature of the curved portion 26 is fifty five and five eights inches. A straight connector tube 32 is employed to join two adjacent curved tubes 24. The length of one connector tube 32 is approximately equal to twice the length of one of the straight portion 28, and the outer diameter of each connector tube 32 is no larger than the inner diameter of the tubes 24 and the straight portions 28. To join two adjacent curved tubes 24, the a connector tube 32 is inserted into the straight portion 28 of one curved tube 24 and a second curved tube 24 is butted against the end of the adjacent curved tube 24 with the straight connector tube 32 extending through both abutting straight portions 28. It should be understood that the straight portions 28 may be eliminated and the entire length of the tubes 24 could be a curved, resulting is a continuously curved support member 20. Although this alternative may be more elegant, it would result in extra cost, since conventional forming equipment used to bend aluminum tubing grips a straight section of tubing which will not be bent. By keeping the length of the straight portions 28 small, the rotating, rolling or rocking movement of the hammock frame 10 is not significantly affected and rotation of the hammock frame 10 and hammock assembly 2 will still be smooth and an almost infinite number of stable positions between a fully reclining and an upright sitting position can be achieved as the occupant moves between the hammock ends 12.

FIGS. 9-12 show the manner in which the two end curved sections 24 in the two opposed support members 20 are joined. As shown in FIG. 9, two curved support sections 24 at the end of each support member 20 diverge from the end 12 at an acute angle so that the support members 20 will spread apart for lateral stability and support. In other words the two support members 20 will be positioned in a splayed configuration. FIG. 10 shows the curvature of the two joined tubes 24. Only the curved tubes 24 adjacent the ends 12 will not be connected end to end to end, even though the four curved tubes 24 at each end are identical to the other tubes 24 that are joined end to end to end to other serially adjacent tubes. No connector tube 32 is employed at either end 12. Instead a lateral attachment member is employed connect the two support members 20 at each end 12. In the representative embodiment depicted herein, this attachment member comprise a straight pin 14 that is inserted through aligned holes in straight portions 28 of two curved tubes 24. A cotter pin 16 is then inserted through a hole in the end of pin 14, and the cotter pin 16, as well as a head on the pin 14 holds the pin 14 in place and in turn holds the two support members 20 in attachment at each end 12. In the embodiment depicted herein the pin 14 also serves as an attachment member for hooking the hammock 4 to the hammock frame 10 at opposite ends, as seen in FIG. 20. Plastic caps 36 are inserted into the otherwise expose ends of curved tubes 24.

A lateral support strap 40 extends between the two support members 20 to limit separation of the opposite support members 20. Two straps 40 are employed in the version of the hammock frame assembly depicted herein. These two straps 40 are shown adjacent opposite ends of the support members 20. A single strap can also extend between the two curved support members 20 adjacent the center of the hammock frame 10, and that single strap will be sufficient to prevent separation of the two support members 20. When a single strap is used adjacent the center, it is not necessary to employ two straps, one adjacent each end of the hammock frame 10 In embodiment depicted herein, the straps 40 need only be employed to limit separation of the support members 20 are only placed in tension. The lateral straps 40 are not placed in compression. Each lateral strip comprises a flexible web 42 with a hook 44 engaging each strap 40 at opposite ends. A threaded section 46 can attach the straps 40 to curved tubes 24 through holes in the straight portions 28.

By employing multiple curved sections 24 to form the support members 20, it is possible to disassemble the hammock frame 10, and the largest parts can still be stored in a carry bag 16, which with the aid of a strap 52 can be carried on a person's back so that the hammock is portable. Such a portable hammock would be especially suited for outdoor activity, such as hiking, hunting and fishing.

An important feature of this hammock assembly 2 is that the hammock assembly 2 is free to rotate to tilted positions dependent upon an occupant's center of gravity relative to the hammock frame 10. The hammock frame 10 will support an occupant in stable reclining and multiple stable sitting positions as well as in multiple stable positions in which an occupant will be inclined relative to horizontal and vertical planes. FIG. 19 shows the hammock assembly 2 in a tilted position in which an occupant can sit. In other words the hammock 4 can be used as a chair or as a recliner. The hammock 4 can also be tilted toward one end so that a person can more easily get on a hammock 4 without the hammock 4 moving away from the person as he or she tries to sit upon it. This hammock 4 can also be used to sit laterally as shown in FIG. 20. FIG. 21 shows the hammock assembly 2 and the hammock 4 in a neutral, fully reclining position, in which the occupant can be in a horizontal posture. In FIG. 21, the occupant's center of gravity will be at or close to the mid point or center of the hammock frame 10 The hammock assembly 2 is also light enough so that a smaller person, such as a female or child can easily shift the orientation of the hammock by positioning his or her center of gravity to one side or another of the midpoint or center of the hammock. 

1. A hammock frame comprising two elongate support members connected at opposite ends thereof; each support member including curved sections over most of its length between the opposite ends, with the curvature of the two support members being equal; the two support members being attached to each other by a pin extending through aligned holes in the two support members at the opposite ends and lying in transverse planes at an acute angle relative to each other, and hammock attachment members attachable to the pins at each of the opposite ends so that a hammock can be deployed between the two opposite ends; the hammock being free to rotate to tilted positions dependent upon an occupant's center of gravity relative to the hammock frame wherein the hammock frame will support the occupant in stable reclining and multiple stable sitting positions as well as in multiple stable positions in which an occupant will be inclined relative to horizontal and vertical planes.
 2. The hammock frame of claim 1 wherein curved sections of the support members are interrupted by multiple straight portions shorter than the curved sections, the hammock being stable in any angular position when occupied but rotating when the center of gravity of the occupant changes despite the multiple, shorter straight portions.
 3. The hammock frame of claim 1 wherein adjacent curved sections are joined by mating straight portions at opposite ends of the curved sections.
 4. The hammock frame of claim 3 wherein each straight portion is substantially smaller than a curved portion extending therebetween.
 5. The hammock frame of claim 4 wherein straight portions of adjacent curved sections abut each other when curved sections are joined to form the support members.
 6. The hammock frame of claim 5 wherein a straight connector extends through adjacent straight portions to join adjacent curved sections.
 7. The hammock frame of claim 1 wherein the curved sections comprise curved tubes.
 8. The hammock frame of claim 1 wherein the height of the hammock frame is less than thirty percent of the distance between opposite ends of the hammock frame.
 9. The hammock frame of claim 1 wherein a lateral strap extends between opposite support members.
 10. The hammock frame of claim 1 wherein curved sections are attachable to each other and detachable from each other so that the hammock frame is portable.
 11. A portable hammock support frame comprising multiple curved tubes connectable end to end to end to form a tubular support member, two tubular support members being attachable to each other at both opposite ends thereof: the two tubular support members being connectable at both opposite ends thereof and diverging from the opposite ends to maximum intermediate lateral spacing to rest on a ground surface to prevent lateral displacement of the hammock frame when supporting a user on a hammock attachable between opposite ends of the support frame; an attachment member comprising a pin extending through aligned holes in the two support members with an attachment member located at opposite ends of the hammock frame for attaching a hammock to the hammock frame, each attachment member being attachable at an exposed end of tubular support members adjacent the opposite ends of the hammock support frame, the hammock support frame, when fully assembled, being free to rock longitudinally transverse to the lateral spacing between the diverging tubular support members; the curved tubes being disconnectable for portability.
 12. The portable hammock support frame of claim 11 wherein a hammock attachable between opposite ends of the hammock support frame and the hammock support frame are free to rotate to tilted positions dependent upon location of an occupant's center of gravity relative to the hammock frame, wherein the hammock frame will support the occupant in stable reclining and multiple stable sitting positions as well as in multiple stable positions in which an occupant will be inclined relative to horizontal and vertical planes.
 13. The portable hammock support frame of claim 11 wherein the curved tubes, each have a straight portion at opposite ends thereof.
 14. The portable hammock support frame of claim 13 wherein a curved portion between opposite straight portions of each curved tube is longer than the combined widths of the straight portions.
 15. The portable hammock support frame of claim 11 wherein a connecting tube secures adjacent curved tubes to each other.
 16. The portable hammock support frame of claim 15 wherein the connecting tube is insertable into adjacent curved tube ends.
 17. The portable hammock support frame of claim 16 wherein the connecting tube comprises a straight member insertable to a straight end portion of adjacent curved tubes.
 18. A portable hammock assembly comprising a hammock attachable to a field assembled and field disassembled hammock support frame progressively curved between opposite ends thereof, the hammock support frame comprises two support members attachable one to the other at opposite ends thereof by a pin extending through aligned holes in the two support members, the two support members laterally diverging therebetween so that the widest spacing of the support members is equidistant the opposite ends of the hammock support frame; each support frame being formed of a series of more than two, identical curved tubes for assembly and disassembly of the support members; hammock attachment members attachable to the pins at opposite ends of the hammock frame; wherein the hammock assembly is free to rotate and tilt between opposite ends of the hammock frame so that an occupant can be supported in different positions.
 19. The hammock assembly of claim 18 wherein the hammock assembly is free to rotate to tilted positions dependent upon location of an occupant's center of gravity relative to the hammock frame, wherein the hammock frame will support the occupant in stable reclining and multiple stable sitting positions as well as in multiple stable positions in which an occupant will be inclined relative to horizontal and vertical planes.
 20. The hammock assembly of claim 18 wherein each curved tube includes a straight portion at both ends thereof, adjacent curved tubes being joined by a straight connector member engaging straight portions of adjacent curved tubes. 